Amaterasu Omikami

In some countries arranged marriage still exist not to mention marriage is often arranged to strengthen political and business ties.

Yes, you can read it here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Chengqian But basically "Chengqian had favored a young man that he nicknamed Chengxin (稱心, meaning, "satisfying my heart"), probably in a sexual relationship."

Well only thing that would make sense is Stockholm syndrome

In the drama, not officially because of Chinese censorship, it is heavily implied that there is something there. Historically the actual crown prince had preference for men and Chen Ji is based on an actual person which the crown prince was attracted to.

I am about to give Word of Honor a try, heard it is similar to the Untamed, not really into boylove stories but I heard from my sister and mother that it is really good.

Do you want me to break your heart? From a CN streamer's teaser Prince Liang marries Yingying. https://imgur.com/a/tTA5cKn On the day of her wedding, ZiFang watches her palanquin and realised how much she means to him and regrets for not taking action, but it is all too late. -,_-,,

Feel my pain ^_^

Same, I am going wait until the series ends and then binge watch it from episode 30, only thing that I look forward to is the double wedding https://imgur.com/a/sjLQjv2

Yes, double weddings https://imgur.com/a/sjLQjv2

Yes, I would like to see more challenges other than misunderstanding as well and also what is with "oh let's have more people trying to marry here", sure she is intelligent and one of the great beauties, but seriously we have the emperor in the mix as well?

Yup, if let's say Fu Yin had Fu Rou's intelligence and temper then I would have accepted more readily but just to her action in tring to infiltrate the Lu family, but even then I shudder at the thought of sleeping with the enemy, the values she was taught, the timidness, and the love she had for Du Ning, all gone. Yes revenge is a powerful reason and love for her mother, but.... leading up to her finding out from her brother (yes her brother is brainless as well) that the Lu Family was responsible, the reasoning just contradicts her personality and capability.
And let's not forget the drama started off as lightheart and comedic to dark and skin crawling tone

I am watching that as well, but some of the plots is a bit too much, LeYan disappears for so long, in those days her reputation would be in tatters, the revenge driven ChangLe is is irrational, understandable but given her intelligence did she forget what her mother asked of her? But that is my personal opinion.
I tried but I couldnt get around the actual age difference between
Dilraba and Leo, I just couldnt the thought of Onee-san just spoiled it for me ^_^ The relationship between LeYan and Hao Du was nicely done and cute too, that was what kept me watching lol

I have yet to see a drama recently that doesnt involved the following formula - Establish character and plot, let audience immerse in the drama, obstacles which leads overcome, then misunderstanding, then long winded draggety drag drama (and sometimes repeat misunderstanding or throw more obstacles at the leads) to almost the end of the series, then in one episode clears up or resolves everything, and in the final episode, happy ending.

You are welcome, but yes I agreed with you. The personality change is too sudden, given her personality. I once mentioned that it is like some screenwriter stepped in and changed the script (but we dont since the screenwriter is also the author of the novel this drama is based on), or we have 2 different directors (which the drama does) fighting over the direction of the drama.

Go to your post, see Reply, use the drop down to Edit, you should see the word Spoiler with a check box ^_^

Seems like the drama will follow closely to actual history, well in regards to the imperial family, with a few changes as to what and why it leads to their downfall and their punishment,

Agreed, but spoiler tag please

The thing is the screenwriter is the author of the novel, same author for the General and I

I just realised there are two directors for this drama, perhaps that is the reason why

No idea, the teasers were from Baidu and Weibo, my guess, last episode ^_^